Archive By Section - Local News

Weeding out a list that started with 23 possible names for Oakdale's part-time city manager, the city council's ad-hoc committee has narrowed down the choices from 16 potential applicants to two serious considerations and is now weighing the qualifications and fit of a potential candidate.

The saga that has centered on preserving Oakdale's redevelopment agency is still filled with as much jarring and ups and downs in the legislative arena as an eight-second ride on the back of a bull in a rodeo arena.

Capping off his morning travels on Tuesday, June 28 with a lunch stop at the local H–B Saloon, Congressman Jeff Denham heard from local constituents as he enjoyed the "Kim & Jim" special from the menu.

A 90-year-old woman was rescued from the Stanislaus River Monday, July 4 when her River Journey boat capsized near the Russian Rapids. She wasn't injured but she was sinking fast in spite of her life jacket. For full details and a snapshot of the Fourth of July holiday, don't miss the July 6 issue of The Oakdale Leader

Safety first should be the watchword this long holiday weekend, according to local officials.

River water is still running high and cold, making it all the more important for rafters and swimmers to use life jackets. Authorities also caution against boating and drinking, or 'floating' and drinking for rafters, as the alcohol will slow response time and could create added danger for those trying to enjoy a day on the water. Extra patrols will be implemented on the area's waterways as deputies crack down on drunken or impaired boaters.

Over 40 members of the Oak Valley Hospital Foundation gathered at the home of Bill and Saundra West earlier this month to recognize the year's accomplishments by the organization and present awards to some of its members.

During the Oak Valley Hospital monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 22, the governing board released its written response to the Grand Jury Report from May 5 regarding Brown Act violations and not following established policy on awarding bids.

Annually in the month of June, the San Joaquin/Stanislaus CattleWomen donate $500 worth of beef to a charity, at $250 each, in the two counties. This year, the Salvation Army of Modesto (Stanislaus) and of Stockton (San Joaquin) were chosen to receive the donation of beef. The Salvation Army centers were able to choose any cut or combination of cuts of beef.

A Thursday accident along a rural road outside the city resulted in the death of a 17-year-old Oakdale girl, killed June 23 when her ATV entered the path of a 2002 Chevrolet. The Chevy was traveling westbound on Rice Road at about 45 mph early Thursday evening when the vehicles collided.

Fireworks booths throughout Oakdale are open for business and the temperatures are predicted to heat up for the weekend, with plenty of people liable to hit the local waterways for the Fourth of July holiday.

Out of concern for the senior citizens and a frustration with government inefficiency, a construction professional wishing to remain anonymous gathered his crew and took a few hours of his time on Saturday, June 25, to install a 95-foot sidewalk on A Street near Yosemite Avenue.

Oakdale Rural Fire Protection District has achieved some financial security for the end of the fiscal year. Chief Lee Winton is in the process of saving for a rainy day; a reserve fund is something ORFD hasn't had.

For more details about how Rural Fire improved the bottom line, read the June 29 issue of The Oakdale Leader.

Faced with the possibility of financing a $20,000 special election as well as having to wait until the end of the year, the Oakdale City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the decision to appoint someone to fill Don Petersen's upcoming vacant seat.

Three members of the Oakdale Police Department were recognized for heroic action on Monday night, Feb. 2 stemming from a 2014 incident where a man threatened his family with a knife and who attempted to take his own life in the process.

For the second time the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office has asked the court to grant them more time to decide if they will pursue criminal charges against a Turlock man accused of sexually assaulting an employee at his Oakdale pizzeria.